Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-06

using water therefrom and which have not sup
ply OF their own The disadvantage OF this ar
rangement would be that the burden you'd fail en-
ufely upon the occupants, ana the property own
would escape his just liability, which In most
cases ne Is better able 70 bear than They A, An sd
Ing OF main IN such q case Is that until water Is
provided no system OF sewerage is practicable,
sanitary arrangements
SEWERAGE
In the construction OF sewers an important
MODIFICATION is needed OF the existing law. AT the
present time all sewers constructed under the APP
preparation for that purpose must be buft by con-
tract. and this exclusive method OF procuring the
extension Of the sewer system has been found TO
permit the commissioners 10 exercise their discre
ton as 10 building the sewers 10y contract or by
hired labor. The danger OF entrusting the con-
structfon OF such important work, which after
completion is covered up from sight, TO a con-
tractor whose sole object legitimate as IL may be,
Is 70 make pr az out OF it. is obvious For the
more extensive works, the cost OF which justiies
the employment OF an adequate force or fnspec-
tors, the contract system can be made to answer
reasonably well. but in the large number OF minor
has been found In the maintenance OF such rigid
SUPERVISION as can insure the satisfactory perfor-
nance OF the work. In all these cases II should be
done by hired labor under competent manage
ment, and the modification Of the law would effect
In numerous cases the saving OF a considerable
percentage OF the total cost, as well as furnish Sc
curtty that these works would discharge their
functions without failure.
The appropriation OF last year for the first time
made provision Tor the construction OF suburban
sewers, a much needed work, which having been
commenced should be considerably extended be-
project. The ptopriety and need Of sewerage for
the service OF aggregations OF people is not Ques-
toned by any one competent to give an op MON
upon the subject, anu the rapid extension OF the
outlying areas suggests the necessity OF making
provision for the establishment OF trunk lines OF
sewers for the drainage OF localities already occu-
MED and those n hayolOnmanf With
the last appropriation sewer has been projected
ana VIII shortly be completed on the line OF New
jersey avenue extended and the cross streets In
tervening between Boundary anc Mount Pleasant.
sewer has also been projected toextend through
LIE Droit Park along Linden street for the drainage
OF that locality, and Of Howard University and
the area In its vicinity. sewer has also been
constructed In Anacostia.
The topography OF the Rock Creek valley is
such as 10 make IL natural conduit for drainage,
but other considerations suggest the desirability
OF keeping IL free from pollution and ultimately
considerable constructions win be required TO ac-
cOmpilSn TINS OBJECT. thorough study OF the en-
tire subject Is needrul ana the preparation Of
final plans should precede exte i've construction
cbarsctar VI sever Mork anu hs @
rate division OF the engineer department to have
charge OF the subject and the details OF cOnstruc-
the appropriation act the division was temporarily
organized under Mr.. McComb assiS; ant engineer,
and has been included In the estimates for next
year.
STREET IMPROVEMENT.
This subject is the occasion OF more contention
on the part OF the citizens and the source OF more
embarrassment to the Commissioners, than almost
All owners OF property are interested in procur-
ing pavements, curbs and sidewalks for the streets
upon which their premises abut, or which give
imp ovements annually aggregate in value a
much larger sum than can by possibility be ale
lotted TO this purpose IN the estimates OF the Com
misSionerS For example, out OF petitions for the
ensuing year, agregating $500 600, II is pract-
cable, having due regard TO other important mat
ters, to allot but $780, OOO leaving two-thirds OF
the petitioners without prospect OF present relief
and, as though this did not impose upon the CON-
missiOners a sufficiently harassing and thankess
task in the discrimination that must be exercised
in selecting the streets 10 be improved, the mat
ter is additionally complicated In the public mind
BY JealOusles and rvalries between the several
tons or the city, each urging its own claims for
preference and disparaging those OF the Others.
Having reached preliminary adjustment OF
the matter and prepared a schedule OF streets TO
law is to accompany the estimates and constitute
part OF the appropriation act, further difficulty Is
found In the TACT that the appropriations as finally
made are generally insufficient TO complete all the
work estimated for, and further reductions and
Determinations follow.
An endeavor was made during the past year to
arrive at some satisfactory system which should
regulate the distribution OF street improvements,
and an allotment was made In accordance with a
table OF percentages which took account or the
AREA, assessed valuations and population OF the
several sections, and the mean per cent WIS
adopted as that regulating the distribution OF ex-
penditureS.
For the ensuing year this plan has been fol-
lowed amending the former average percentage OF
area. vaiue and population by the Incorporation OF
the percentage OF streets TO be improved In each
section representing what may be considered the
"needs" OF the section In question and with an inn
portant additional feature or the division or the
total estimates into Two parts VIZ general sched-
uie ana special schedule.
The general schedue' is intended to provide
for the improvement OF streets which are regarded
lilo a frhA MANI ft,A4p
special locality.
This would naturally include important lines OF
such as Maryland avenue, Penn
sylvania avenue, AZ street, 9Th street, and
others, and would provide for the removal OF the
residue Of the old wood pavements and for the
filling of gaps In existing streets, such as street
face from one section TO another.
The especial schedule" is then constructed by
alloting the remainder Of the appropriation to the
several sections in accordance win the average
percentage OF area, pOpuiation, valuation and
needs.
1t is not to be expected however. that entire
satisfaction will be had or complaint obviated by
this or any means short OF appropriating the full
amount petttioned Tor
the report OF Capt. Griffin fully illustrate the sub
tect and further show, was stated in last years
report that upon the whole the distribution or the
allotmentS since 1873 under the present form or
has been substantially equitable,
taking into account the respective features OF each
section.
Unless some such plan as this can be regarded
as satisfactory, IL will be needful TO make radi-
cal change in the present system or street i'm
provementS, and either TO proceed by the gradual
extension or improved streets beyond the present
area, without consideration or individual petitions
and allotment 70 sections, or TO base the Improve
ment upon the petition OF owners, condi-
TONED upon their assuming certain proportion Of
the cost OF the work.
the Commissioners believe, however, that the
present system should continue for at least
another year, and until further experience shall
show whether local Jealousies may subside and
expressions OF dlScOntent be mOdified.
II may be stated that the estimated cost OF pro-
viding for all the unmproved ST Gets within the city
limits is approximately, $1,000 OOQ So that an
nual appropriations OF $7U0,0O0 would require ten
years TO complete The work.
STREET PAVING.
Unremitting attention has been given to this
subject In Washington for many years, and the
Of the supervision and the intelll-
gent sysUenpOf experimentation have attained re-
suits that constitute the payements OF Washing
ton one OF the great advantages and attrac-
lions OF the city, and establish Them as models
OF construction under similar circumstances else
where A mass OF detailed Information upon the
subject OF great value and interest is embodied in
the reports Col Grimm on the subject OF streets
There are four pdvementS now In service In WASH
ington which are regarded as having special adap-
talon to the needs OF the city under somewhat
varying circumstances.
The Two street pavements, viz the standard
asphalt" with 6-inch hydraulic base, and q IL
inch wearing surface, and the cOal-tar distillate,
or asphalt, with 4-inch bituminous base ana 3
inch wearing surface, represent the survivors OF
heretofore tried. It Is the standard asphalt
I'm which the greater mart the sIrpet surSaee